T&T President accepts responsibility for integrity fiasco

The controversy over the collapse of Trinidad and Tobago's integrity commission rubbles on with the country's ceremonial President, George Maxwell Richards accepting responsible for the withdrawal of the people he appointed.

There were a number of procedural errors and there are increasing calls for his resignation.

President Maxwell, who was on vacation in Europe while the resignations were taking place, has been silent on the controversy.

But in a three-page statement issued by his office on Friday the President accepted full blame for the issue.

President Richards said in part that he deeply regretted the anxiety experienced by the people of Trinidad and Tobago and the embarrassment occasioned by the appointees.

He also noted that his office does not have the necessary resources to fully probe possible appointees to similar commissions.

The President assured the country that there is no crisis and that efforts are underway to have a new integrity commission selected but this statement seems to have fueled calls from several quarters for the resignation of the president.

One of those calling for the President to step aside is Opposition Leader Basdeo Panday who acknowledged that the President's office may not have the necessary investigative tools.

He says this issue again points to the need for constitutional reform.